The Energetic Piano, Week #2
Welcome to week two of piano interpretation, our theme for June. This week, we’re turning up the heat on the piano, turning it into a living thing that is full of energy and zest. In every song this week, the piano does a great job catching up with the artist and giving us all a great show. Today, your job is to express emotions about Little Richard’s song, Good Golly, Miss Molly.
Creative Idea Gal’s Thoughts
I have known about recording artist Little Richard for many years, but I never paid attention to him. His style of music is not my thing and his eccentricities often distract me. However, I have learned to look past the antics and focus on the music for this month’s set of prompts. If you can somehow strip away the odd things he does and put his unusual way of speaking and acting on a bookshelf, you will be left with the raw talent that makes him a legend.
This man has talent! Even as a boy, Little Richard showed the same trademark enthusiasm and energy that carries him through his songs today. He started off honing his natural singing talent at church, often veering off into theatrics with his voice and performance style. Little Richard’s biography tells an interesting tale of how he strayed from religion to sing rock-and-roll and often went back and forth until finally reconciling the two by creating energetic gospel music.
If you see Little Richard performing any song as he plays piano, the thing you should focus on is his energy level. Watch closely. It ebbs and flows with the music like a master class in scales.
Creative Idea Gal’s Emotion
My emotion for today’s song is “Broadway.” Anything less than the intensity of a Broadway production would be too tame for Little Richard. This man just commands attention when he sings. In the video performance of Good Golly Miss Molly, you’ll see him looking at the audience as he sings and plays. The piano is going just as haywire as he is. It’s a fun song that makes you want to get up and dance, but not just any dance – – a Broadway-style dance.
Any dance you see on Broadway is perfectly choreographed with an uncanny attention to synchronicity. These dancers move in perfect unison to any music. And the singing on Broadway is pretty good, too. Those voices must be sung loud and clear and in perfect pitch. Everything about Broadway is strictly rehearsed and perfected. That is the same idea I get from Little Richard. This is no teen singing softly to earn some dollar bills at the subway. It’s the real deal.
Tips on How to Evoke Emotion in Nonfiction Writing
- Tip #3 – Define your writing style, whatever it may be
If you want to be a writer and want to call yourself a writer, you had better come up with some sort of original style of writing. It really doesn’t matter what style you choose, so long as it’s one that you’re comfortable with, fits your personality, and frames your writing. If I were to define my writing style, I’d probably plop it into a category of analytical. I’m always asking why questions which involves breaking down facts, dismissing assumptions, and offering alternative viewpoints.
Not everyone needs to write like me. Everyone should feel confident to establish a personal writing style that suits them. Little Richard defines his own singing style by pumping up the energy level and driving it home with the piano. He stops, starts, screams, woo-hoos, and does anything else to rile up the audience.
Helpful Resources
“Narrative writers are natural storytellers. The function words that generally reveal storytelling involve people, past-tense verbs and inclusive words such as “with” and “together”. People who score high for narrative writing tend to have better social skills, more friends and rate themselves as more outgoing.” – Robin Hanson for Overcoming Bias
“The writer contributes more than information to nonfiction. Style is the particular way in which a writer uses language. Style reflects an author’s personality. Factors that contribute to an author’s style include level of formality, use of figurative language, diction or word choice, sentence patterns, and methods of organization.” – Miss Hannigan, blogger
Writing Prompt 067
Prompt: Express emotions about Little Richard’s song, Good Golly, Miss Molly.
- Step 1: The song is energetic on its own, but putting a performance to it adds another layer of energy. Watch it and see if it makes you move.
- Step 2: Forget about Little Richard’s off-stage eccentricities and try to judge the performance for what it is.
- Step 3: Express your emotions about this song. Do you think other artists can perform with Little Richard’s level of intensity and make it sound as good?
Please be sure to leave comments about this writing prompt. We want to hear from you!
About the Author
Amanda M. Socci, J.D., is a freelance writer with 14 years of experience writing professionally. Socci currently cuts her blogging chops on her personal portfolio blog, the Creative Idea Gal blog, and on an online news site, Mount Vernon Patch. Inspired by Nina Amir’s Write Nonfiction in November writing challenge, she created a unique 10-month training program for Writenonfictionnow.com and Writenonfictioninnovember.com blog visitors.
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